RALEIGH, N.C. – A federal jury convicted a Jacksonville man on charges of distribution of heroin resulting in death, two counts of possessing a firearm while a felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, three counts of distribution of heroin and/or crack, and three counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and crack.
According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Randon Austin Jenkins, 37, provided heroin to a victim who died shortly thereafter of a heroin overdose. After the victim was discovered, detectives located bags of heroin marked with a unique stamp in the victim’s bedroom. Detectives utilized informants, cell phone evidence, and other evidence to connect Jenkins to those stamped heroin bags. They were able to search Jenkins house just two weeks later and located those same stamped heroin bags in his house. Detectives also located guns and other drugs in the house as well as conducted multiple controlled purchases of drugs from the defendant over the course of the ensuing months.
Jenkins faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment due to the severity of his criminal history when sentenced during the week of February 22, 2021.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after United States District Judge James C. Dever III accepted the verdict. Jacksonville Police Department, Onslow County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation assisted in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Howard prosecuted the case.